The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-16
and soon afterwards dog came bounding along

At the same moment a man appeared on the
bank.
island. Warmed by the dogs bark he had run
what had happened. His rage at find
ing Zermah and Dy on the drifting tree may be
imagined. He could not follow them, for the
barge the other side of the stream Only
one thing could he do to stop them and that
was to shoot Zermah at the risk of killing the
child.
He had brought his gun with him. and he did
not hesitate to use it. He took careful aim at
the half breed. who tried to cover the child with
her body.
Suddenly the dog in its mad excitement
jumped into the water. Texar thought he had
better wait to see what it could do
The hound swan swiftly towards the tree
and Zermah. knife in hand was ready. But it
was not necessary.
In a moment the snakes had twisted them
selves on to their prey, and with few bites
from its teeth answer those from their
venomous fangs the dog had sunk among the
weeds.
Texar the dog die before he could help it,
and now Zermah was escaping him.
die them he exclaimed.
But the drifting tree had now reached the op-
posite bank, and the bullet only grazed the
half-breeds shoulder.
Next moment the tree grounded. Zermah,
carrying the child, stepped ashore and vanished
into a clump of reeds Texar fired again. but
missed.
She had escaped from the 1exar on the island,
but she was now In danger of falling into the
hands of his brother. Her first endeavor was TO
get as far from Carneral island possible.
When night came she would make for Lake
Washington. Calling up all her strength and
energy she fed along, running rather than
walking and carrying the child in her arms
Dy's little legs refused to run the irregular
ground amid the ouagmires that sunk like traps,
and the roots that grew in such tangled masses
as to be impossible for her
She did seem feel the weight of her
burden. Sometimes she stopped, less take
breath than to listen to the sounds of the for
est. Sometimes she thought she could hear the
bark of the other dog that Texar had taken with
the report of firing in the distance. And she
wondered if the Southerners had come up with
the federal detachment. Then, when she had
recognized that the noises were but the cries of
bird. or the breaking of some dry branch,
she would resume her flight. and, full of hope,
think nothing of the dangers that threatened
her until che reached the sources of the ST.
Johns
For hour she continued to leave Lake
Okee-cho-bee, making toward the east, TO
approach the Atlantic shore. 1t appeared prob
able to her that ships of the squadron would be
cruising off the coast in support OF the detach-
ment under Captain Howick
Suddenly she STOPPED This time there could
be mistake. furious barking heard
under the trees. and 1t coming quickly to-
wards her. hermah recognized the bark
she bad ofen heard while the dogs kept watch
round the Black Greek block-house.
1.-The dog IL on our track thought she, land
Texar cannot be far off,"
She looked round in search of a thicket in
which she and the child could hide. But the dog
was as intelligent as he was fierce, and had been
trained to slave hunting; would he not scent her
onts
The barking came nearer and nearer, and
shouts could be heard IN the distance
few yards away stood an old cypress-t tree
hollow with age. round which serpen tarias and
lianas had thrown a thick network of branch
let's.
Zermah ran to the hollow. which was just
large enough TO hold her and the child. while
the network of iianas concealed them.
But the dog was on their track. minute
afterward Zermah saw him in front of the tree.
a. or bod until rradf t,ry "A
cypress.
A stab with the knife made him retreat; and
he began to bark more furiously than ever.
A minute or two afterwards voices were heard
those of Texar and Scuambo, among others.
1t was the Spaniard and his companions who
were running to the lake in endeavor to
cape from the federal detachment which they
had unexpectedly met in the cypress grove. and
found too strong to resist. Texar's object was
to get back to Carneral island by the shortest
way, as to put ring of water between the
federals and himself. The federals would not
be able to cross it without a boat. After a few
hours of respite the Southerners could reach the
other side of the island and when night came
make use of the barge to land GU the southern
side of the lake.
When Texar and Souambo reached the cy-
press tree In front of which the dog continued TO
bark. they saw that the ground was red with
blood that flowed from open wound in the
flank
'.Lookl Lookw exclaimed the Indian
'Is the dog woundedl" asked Texar.
Eyes! wounded by knife. and not q minute |
ago. Inc blood IS still smoking"
"Wno could have done it2'
And here the dog jumped at the net
work of foliage which Souambo lifted aside with |
the butt end of his gun.
"Zernahi' be exclaimed.
''And the childv said Texar.
Yes. How did they get away2"
''kill her! Kill Zermah.
The half-breed stabbed at the Spsniard but |
Squam DO snatched away the knife and drew her
put from tbs tree SO roughly that the |
child fell and rolled among lot of the giant
xuhi ch ahpr1n fro
At the shock one of the mushrooms exploded
ike a gun, and a luminous dust cracked in the
air At the same moment other pezizas went
Of, and there was a noise all round as If the
forest were filled with fireworks.
Blinded by the myriad spores, Texar had to
cave go of Zermah, and the burning dust in
Souambo's eyes for moment rendered the
Indian powerless. Fortunately the half breed
md child were stretched on the ground and Law
1nharmed while the spores cracked above
hem.
But Zermah could not escape from Texar. AL
ready the air. after few more explosions, had
,ecome breathable. Then new series
If reports began, but this time they were the
reports OF Firearms.
1t was ting federal detachment come I'D with
he Southerners, whom they surrounded in an
Instant and ordered to lay down their arms. AS
he order given. Texar seized hold of the
lalf -breed and stabbed her in the breast.
Tine child" Garry off the child.' shouted thu
Spaniard to SQuambo.
The Indian caught up the girl and had run a
stride or two towards the lake. when gun was
ired. He fell dead shot through the heart by
Gilbert Burbank.
For all bad come up. James Burbank and Gil
vert, and Carol, and Perry. and Mars, and the
blacks from Candies bay, and Captain Howick's
eamen who had made prisoners of the South
rners Among the prisoners Texar stand
pg upright by Squambo's corpse. Only a few
# the men had escaped toward Carneral island
by was In her fathers arms, and he was clasp
ne her as tightly as If he feared she was be
gain taken away from him. Gilbert and Mars
we're leaning Zerman, endeavorng to re-
how ShcS hroa h16 hy1e cho oD,l1
peak. Mars held up her head, called to her.
Used her.
She opened her eyes. She saw the child in
Ir. Bur banks arms, recognized Mars covering
Ter with kisses, and smiled. Then her evelids
ell.
Mars stood I'D, and catching sight of Texar
jumps toward him shouting, Kill Texar! Kill
'eXari'
..Srna Mars said f,antai., HoyricL s.ara La.